“I Think They’re Plug-In-And-Play Guys”
May 8th, 2025
Talkin’ corners.
Well, the Bucs didn’t draft guys on Day 2 to watch the games from the sidelines.
While Joe is still convinced (at this moment) that if Jamel Dean is healthy, he is starting Week 1 along with fellow corner Zyon McCollum, it doesn’t sound as if rookie Benjamin Morrison will have to wait long to get on the field if healthy.
(Hey, it’s not if Dean will get hurt, it’s when.)
And as far as third-round pick cornerback Jacob Parrish, Joe would not be surprised if he starts at nickel Week 1.
Listening to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht talk on SiriusXM Radio, the rookie learning curve shouldn’t be an issue to navigate for Morrison and Parrish.
Licht hopped on “Schein on Sports” hosted by popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein on the Mad Dog Radio channel.
Licht admitted health was a key factor in his decision to draft two corners on Night 2 of the draft.
“Corners, we took [because the Bucs] also were dealing with injuries there as well,” Licht said. “These two guys [Morrison and Parrish] on top of being just, you know, awesome teammates — it’s kind of a common theme — they’re just really, really well-coached, and they are talented.”
Licht then broke down why he wanted Morrison and Parrish.
“Benjamin Morrison is a long, very athletic, great ball skills, very instinctive and very disciplined player that can press you, can play off [the ball and is a] really smart player,” Licht said.
“And Jacob Parrish, talk about just, like, a very feisty, sticky athlete, sticky corner with great toughness.
“I mean, he was a former wrestler, and I love that combination just because those guys are nuts. And he wants to blitz. He can tackle. He can cover.”
A factor in drafting Morrison and Parrish was their pedigrees, per Licht. Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame has done a strong job with his defense, likely because he was an Ohio State linebacker.
Parrish played for Chris Klieman at Kansas State, a rock-solid college coach for decades. Klieman, too, was once a cornerback. So it’s no surprise that Parrish would be coached up.
“They come from great programs where defense [is a focus] and come from defensive-minded teams, where they’re very disciplined,” Licht said. “And that’s what makes me very excited about these guys.”
Licht forecasts both Morrison (if healthy) and Parrish to see the field sooner than later.
“Of course, they’re going to go through the rookie learning curve and all that stuff — in terms of most rookies, I think they’re plug-in and play guys,” Licht said.
As Joe stated, it’s only a matter of time before Dean gets hurt. Joe’s sure there are various bars from Dade City down to Sarasota where one can wager on when Dean will miss his first game.
May 8th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Very excited to see our new “Ballhawks” on the field.
May 8th, 2025 at 7:48 am
I’m thinking Izzy and Tykee competing at safety. Parrish at nickel competing with Izzy or Tykee. Something for Joe to look at during OTA’s – is Tykee at safety? Where is Izzy?
May 8th, 2025 at 7:49 am
How crazy would it be if Dean stayed healthy all year. All of us (including me in that) already have him penciled in for missing 4 games and limping through another two.
May 8th, 2025 at 7:49 am
You can never have enough CBs or WRs…..and we have tremendous depth at both positions…
May 8th, 2025 at 9:21 am
Joe … ‘ it’s only a matter of time before Dean gets hurt’.
Too negative Joe. Injuries happen, eventually to just about all players. But Jamel MIGHT go an entire season without missing a game because of injury.
I’m more concerned that he’ll get benched because of poor performance. Todd Bowles told us a few ago that he reviewed all the film from last year and is pretty sure that he knows ‘how to fix it’. Certrainly he’s not talking about injuries; he’s talking, more than likely, about HOW he played his defense given the injuries they suffered & the personnel they had left to fill in.
I’m convinced we’ll see a LOT less blitzing this year. It just flat wasn’t very productive last season, so why repeat that? And because of the blitzing, he used a LOT of zone, and that proved costly. I think we’ll see a LOT more man-to-man, press coverage this season. Will it work if we blitz less and keep more guys in coverage?
I think it will … and has in the past. Go back & relook at our 2022 defense. Our pass defense ranked #9 that year, after ranking #21 in both 2020 & 2021. And oh BTW, we fell to ranking #29 in both 2023 & 2024. And keep in mind that in 2022 we’d lost Suh & JPP and replaced them with Hall & JTS.
So what was the difference? I contend it was that Todd blitzed a whole bunch less that year … 250 blitzes in 2022 as opposed to 542 in 2020, 532 in 2021, 341 in 2023 & 461 in 2024. Our pass defense in the year of the least blitzes was far better than in those other years.
May 8th, 2025 at 9:28 am
TBBF … ‘You can never have enough CBs or WRs…..and we have tremendous depth at both positions’.
Agree with you on WR TBBF, but I’m still a little concerned about our CB group. Dean – injury history. McCollum – solid. Bryce Hall – out all last year & still rehabbing. Morrison – recent hip surgery & still rehabbing. Parrish – solid.
Once these guys finish their rehab & can participate in summer gymnastics, I’ll feel better I’m sure.
May 8th, 2025 at 10:01 am
I agree with DR on the hoping for fewer blitzes and more man and press coverages. Our guys up front and on the EDGE last year had good numbers in both pressures and sacks. What kept them from having GREAT numbers was a very ‘loose’ zone coverage that let QBs eat us up with quick passes underneath to move the chains, getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid those sacks and pressures. Every team knew coming in we blitzed a lot, so they schemed the quick passes. Adding in DBs that play 10 yards off the ball and it opened the door to even more of them.
May 8th, 2025 at 10:49 am
I agree that your labeling Dean as ” when he’s going to get hurt” is too simplistic. Would you like to read that if you were him? Try to be more positive. He’s trying the best he can, and he’s darn good. He’s a BUCS. Thanks.
May 8th, 2025 at 11:44 am
DR: ‘And because of the blitzing, he used a LOT of zone, and that proved costly. I think we’ll see a LOT more man-to-man, press coverage this season.’
Agree, DR. As soon as we drafted Morrison and Parrish, and seeing the analysis of their strengths/weaknesses, my first thought was, “Bowles is going to play more man this year.”
At this moment, I think our secondary will be better, not only because when at the bottom, only place to go is up, but I think our defense will be improved this year.
How much better we won’t know until about game 5-6.
Go Bucs ! ! !
May 8th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Only when they start playing games can you plug them in.
Until then this is all conjecture.
Sounds like they’re going to try running out the same defense as last year with different backups in reserve.
Really interested to see what Bowles “found” and what if anything he will “change”. And will it have a negative effect or a positive one.
The defense is the weak link on this team bar far.
Until the scheme changes the SB is just a pipe dream.